Relay



March 17, 1953 F, RlNKE 2,632,071

RELAY Filed Sept. l0 1949 @james -FT minne. da, -wu4ew f a4/L dlT-ronuvay/ Patented Mar. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES RELAY James 1F. Rinke, Princeton, Ind., assignor to APotter 4and Brumeld Mfg. Co. Inc., Princeton, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application September 10, 1949,'Serial No. 115,005

7 Claims.

.berof parts to an absolute minimum.

Another object is to provide a Yrelay of the foregoing character which will be susceptible of economical manufacture on a mass productive basis `yet capable of reliable operation overa relatively long life span.

A further object is to provide a relay of the type set forth which Will be sensitive and precise in operation but suiciently rugged to Withstanda considerable amount `of roughhandling.

Another object is to provide a relay of the foregoing type and having a movable member which will remain substantially free from the adverse effects of vibration and shock.

-Still another Objectis to provide a relay particularly Well suited for what are known in the electronics art as plate circuit applications land which'will be susceptible of construction .in multipole 'as Well as single pole models.

Other objectsand advantages will becomeaplparent .as Vthe following detailed description proceeds, vtaken in connection with the accompanying .drawings wherein:

.Figure lis aperspective view of an illustrative relay embodying the present invention.

Fig. i2 'is a longitudinal ysectional view taken vertically through the relay of Fig. 1 and showing the core piece and armature stop member .inbreken section.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the relay of Fig. l and taken in the plane of the line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. e is a perspective view showing details of the bobbin member of the relay.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating one type of enclosure which can be provided for the relay shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional `view through nthe .barrel of the bobbin member oi Fig. 4 and showing the longitudinal passage therein.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view ,detailing a modication of the contact arrangement of a relay similar to that shown in Fig. 1.

While the invention is susceptible ci various moclicationsand alternative constructions, cerell) molded or Abuilt-up construction.

vtain preferred embodiments have been shown in the drawings and will be described below -in considerable detail. It should be understood, however, that lthere is no intention to limit the invention tothe specic forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within thelspirit andvscope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the invention is there shown `embodied in an illustrative relay it Which happens to beof the single pole, double throwstyle having what is known yin the art as a-form C contact-arrangement. This simply means that the relay has a pair of xed contacts arranged in spaced apart relation Iwith a movable contact shiftable therebetween. In

the present instance, outer fixed contact Il ris donned bya dimplein angarin l2 Which ove-rlies inner fixed contact .i3 and serves as a stop vmember for the armature 4.4. The latter -is of liingeless construction, being inherently resildegree of hardness.

'Therelay lil is assembled upon a bobbin l5 of insulating material and ,which maybe of The vbobbin it Vis Vsulistantially spool shaped, comprising a Vhollow central portion or barrel It Which terminates in .a pair oi" flanges or bobbin heads it, iS. An actuating coil 20 surrounds the barrel it, the lends of the coil being connected to coil Vterminals 2i, 22, mounted onbobbin'head i8.

In order to simplify the construction of the relay ill, the total number of parts is reduced `to an absolute minimum by utilizing certain of the current carryingmembers to define the magnetic circuit. Accordingly, the relay .iii includes a central core piece 2li having a substantially perpendicular arm 25 which terminates at the inner fixed contact i3. The-piece 2li is formed oi a suitable ferrous metal and has a relatively large cross-sectional area. 'In addition, the surface of thisv member is heavily plated With silver or some other highlyconductive metal. The end portion of the core piece 25 remote from the contact i3 serves as a combined terminal lug and a mounting extension, being formed With a hole 25 to receive both an/ electrical and amechanical connection. The other important ele nnent of the magnetic circuit is armature Vmember I 4 which, in the present instance, is fashioned from a strip of resilient ferrous metal and is rigidly iixed at its end remote from the contacts Il, I3, I4A. Like the core piece 24, the surface of the armature is heavily plated with highly conductive metal. At its xed end, the armature I4 is provided with a terminal in the form of a solder lug 28. As shown in the drawing, the spring tension of the armature is such as to hold the contact element I4A normally in abutment with the outer fixed Contact I I, the armature swinging toward the core piece 24 upon energization of the actuating coil 28.

Provision is made for assembling the relay I with its parts in proper electrical, magnetic and mechanical relation without the use of screws or other conventional fastening devices. This is accomplished by mounting all the mechanical and current carrying elements, except the actuating coil 20, within the hollow barrel l of the bobbin. Accordingly, the bobbin I5 is fashioned with a longitudinal passage 30 of substantially uniform cross section throughout its length (Figs. 3, 4 and 6). The passage 30 is adapted to receive the core piece 24 with a relatively snug sliding t and to house the central portion of the same. Above the core piece 24, the passage 30 has a longitudinal groove 30A in its top wall, such groove being somewhat narrower than the core piece and or appropriate size to slidably receive an extension of the xed end of the armature. Such extension may, for example, comprise two thicknesses of metal in the form of integral leaves 29, 3l or, alternatively, the leaves 29, 3l may be separate thicknesses of material spot welded or otherwise secured together. The leaves 29, 3l of the armature extension are electrically separated from the core piece 24 by means of an insulator strip 32 of mica or other suitable sheet insulation housed within the groove 30A. Similarly, the passage 3E! is formed with a second longitudinal groove 3dB narrower than the core piece 24 and underlying the same. The groove 30B slidably receives and houses central portion 34 of armature lstop member I2. The portion 34 of stop member I2 is electrically isolated from the core piece 24 by means of insulator 35, similar to the insulator 32, and housed within the groove 30B. For the purpose of retaining the core piece 24, the armature extension, the insulators 32, 35 and the central portion 34 of the armature stop member in assembled relation within the barrel I 6, an appropriate frictional means may be utilized. This may conveniently be effected by making the portion 34 of the armature stop member of resilient material and forming the same with an initial curvature. As an incident to deformation of the portion 34 during assembly of the foregoing parts within the passage 3@ and grooves 30A, 30B, a fricticnal force would be set up within the passage 3E] tending to hold such parts in place. To supplement such frictional action and to positively preclude the core piece 24 or the portion 34 of the armature stop member from Slipping out of the passage 3ii, terminal lug 38 of the armature stop member i 2 is bent so as to diverge outwardly from the mounting extension of the core piece 24. Short circuiting between the member i2 and the perpendicular arm 25 of the core piece is prevented by interpesing an insulating spacer block 36 between these members.

In the event that manufacturing or service considerations so require, frictional holding of the parts within the barrel It may be dispensed with and these members may be secured With a suitable cement. This expedient simplifies assembly and is desirable in instances where the relay is subject to severe vibration. It is also desirable in plate circuit applications where a slight relative movement of the parts within the barrel would disturb the adjustment of the relay.

Aside from cementing the parts within the barrel as described above, additional provision is made in the construction of lthe relay I0 for protecting the armature and contact assembly against being put out of adjustment or damaged due to striking or rough handling. This is accomplished primarily by the use of recesses in the bobbin heads of proper size and shape to bring the foregoing parts within the peripheries and the end surface planes of the bobbin heads. '.[t is also accomplished in part by forming the bobbin with its barrel IS disposed in slightly eccentric relation to the bobbin heads I8, I9. Referring more specincally to Fig. 4, it will be perceived that the bobbin head I8 has a radial slot 43 in its end surface starting at its outer periphery and terminating at the passage 30. The slot 49 is shaped so as to receive the stationary hinged portion of the armature with its outer surface iiush with the end face of the bobbin head I3 and with the exible portion of the armature well within the peripheral surface of the head I8. Similarly, the bobbin head I9 is slotted as at 4I and MA to receive the contact assembly of the relay. This slot also runs radially and terminates at the passage 3l?. The slot 4I, 4IA houses the contact assembly within the outer peripheral surface of the bobbin head I9 and with the upstanding portion of armature stop member I2 flush with the end surface of the head I9. As indicated in the drawing, portion 4IA of the slot is somewhat wider than the portion 4|. The purpose of this is to accommodate the spacer block 36 and to prevent the same from sliding upwardly and impeding the movement of the armature.

In order to simplify the connections to the actuating coil 2li and to economize to the maximum possible extent on insulation for the same, the bobbin head I8 is fashioned with additional recesses 42, 44 running along its inside face. These recesses are adapted to receive the ends of the coil 20 and to guide them outwardly to the inside ends of coil terminals 2l, 22. The coil ends are preferably solder connected to these terminals.

In addition to protecting the relay, the recessing arrangement described above facilities housing of the relay in certain types of enclosures or envelopes of glass or drawn steel, for example. Referring to Fig. 5, the relay Il) is indicated diagrammatically as enclosed in a glass envelope 45 comparable in size to a miniature vacuum tube and having a similar type pronged base 46. The tube may, for example, be gas lled or evacuated, depending upon the needs of the particular installation in which it is used.

To further increase the versatility of the relay lil, its construction may be slightly modied as indicated in Fig. 7. Turning once more to the drawing, it will be noted that the relay is provided with a modified armature stop I2A which also serves as a mounting for the outer xecl Contact Il. The member IZA is formed with a U-shaped oiTset 48 in that portion which runs perpendicular to the passage The parallel side portions of the oiset are spanned by a inely threaded adjusting screw 49. As will readily be appreciated, the setting of the relay may be adjusted with nicety and precision by altering the spacing between the iixed contacts i I, I3 through the use .asado-11 5 of the screw '49.` 3A sir'n-ilarA adjusting offset and screw may, of course, 'be interposed between the armature and its extension.

The relay7 vlit Wpossesses ya number .of nadvantage in addition to vthose' already discussed herein. For example, the spool-like formation of the bobbin lends itself readily to 4winding the coil 2G directly thereon. This eliminates the need for `winding thecoil separately and later transferring rit into :the relay assembly.

The Contact Amounting arrangement used in the relay I need not be confined to a single pole type relay, being equally applicable to multiple pole constructions simply by providing a passage of the proper shape in the bobbin and one or more additional insulating strips.

Due lto the relatively small size and low mass of the movable element, namely, the armature, the relay if# is Virtually independent of the effects of shock and vibration regardless of the position in which the relay may be oriented.

While not necessarily limited to embodiments of small size, relays constructed as disclosed herein lend themselves to a degree of miniaturization not heretofore obtainable.

Relays embodying the present invention have been found to have excellent operating characteristics. For example, one such relay, which was designed for direct current operation, performed reliably on test at ve milliamperes with a power consumption of 80 milliwatts. Other relays, also embodying the invention, have been operated continuously at 1.75 watts maximum power with a temperature rise of only 83 C.

I claim `as my invention:

l. In a relay, the combination of a Abobbin of insulating material having a longitudinal passage therein, a coil on said bobbin, a core piece housed within said passage and having at one end a substantially perpendicular arm portion terminating in an inner fixed contact, an armature stop member having a first portion housed within said passage another portion carrying an outer fixed contact, said first portion being deformable from an initially curved to a substantially attened shape upon assembly of said relay, an armature member having an extension housed within said passage, said armature member having a free end portion disposed between said fixed contacts and adapted to serve as a movable Contact, and insulator strips located within the passage and interposed between said armature stop member and said core piece and between said extension of said armature and said core piece, respectively, said deformable first portion of said `armature stop member being adapted to serve as a frictional retaining means so as to preclude withdrawal of said core piece, said armature stop member, and said armature extension from the passage.

2. In ya relay, the combination of a bobbin having a longitudinal passage therein, a coil on said bobbin, a core piece housed within said passage and having at one end a substantially perpendicular arm portion lterminating in an inner xed contact, an armature member havingr an extension housed within said passage, said armature extension being electrically insulated from said core piece but mechanically wedged thereagainst, an armature stop member having an intermediate portion housed within said passage and electrically insulated from said core piece and said armature extension, said armature stop member terminating at one end in an outer iixed contact overlying said inner xed contact, said armatureV stop member .terminating at the `other end in 'a uterminal lug bent outwardly from :said core piece so as to lock the intermediate portion of said armature stop member and also said core piece @within said longitudinal passage.

in a relay, the combination of a bobbin having a ylongitudinal passage therein, a coil on saidbobbin, a. core piece housed within said passage and having at one end a substantially perpendicular portion terminating in a fixed contact, an armature stopvmember having an intermediate portion housed within said passage and electrically insulated from said core piece, said armature stop member terminating at one end in a portion overlying said iixed contact and Iterminating at the otherl end 'in a terminal lug bent outwardly from said core piece so as to preclude withdrawal of the latter and said armature stop member from said passage.

li. In a relay, the combination comprising a spool-shaped bobbin having a hollow barrel interposed between. a pair of spaced apart bobbin heads, said heads having radial recesses therein, a coil mounted on said barrel, a resilient armature of the leaf spring type nested within said recesses, a pair of spaced apart nxed contacts disposed in straddling relation with the free end of said armature and nested within one of said recesses, said contacts and the movable portion of said armature being located within the outer peripheral surfaces of said bobbin heads Iand within the planes of their outer end faces.

5. In a relay, the combination of a bobbin of insulating material having a longitudinal passage therein, a coil on said bobbin, a core piece housed within said passage and having at one end a substantially perpendicular arm portion terminating in an inner xed contact, an armature stop member having a portion housed within said passage and an oiset carrying an outer xed contact, an armature member also having a portion housed within said passage, said armature member having a free end portion disposed between said xed contacts and adapted to serve as a movable contact, and an adjusting screw spanning the offset of said armature stop member to permit adjustment of said outer fixed contact relative to said inner xed Contact.

6. In a relay, the combination of a spoolshaped .bobbin of insulating material having a hollow barrel interposed between and eccentrically of a pair of spaced apart bobbin heads, said heads having recesses therein running radially of said barrel and through those marginal portions of said heads having the greatest radial width, a coil mounted on said barrel, a resilient armature of the leaf spring type nested Within said recesses, a pair of spaced apart fixed contacts disposed in straddling relation with the free end of said armature and nested within one of said recesses, said contacts and the movable portion of said armature being located within the outer peripheral surfaces of said bobbin heads and within the planes of their outer end faces.

'7. In a rela, the combination comprising a hollow bobbin having a longitudinal passage therein, an actuating coil on said bobbin, a generally L-shaped core piece 'housed within the passage of said bobbin, an armature disposed in generally parallel relation with said passage, said armature having an extension projecting well within said passage and frictionally retained therein, said armature extension being 'insulated electrically from said core piece, said armature and said core piece each comprising magnetic material plated with metal having a relatively high conductivity whereby saidparts comprise both a magnetic and an electrical circuit within said relay, and a stop disposed in relatively closely spaced relation with said core piece and overlying relation with the free end of said armature, said stop forming no part of the magnetic circuit of said relay.

JAMES F. RINKE.

8 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Lane et a1. May 22, 1894 Bishop et a1 Mar. 29, 1910 Moore Oct. 5, 1915 Schedlbauer May 17, 1932 Weightman May 31, 1949 

